Hey Coolio's,
It's been interesting reading in the last few days, and whether right or wrong, quite provoking and with plenty food for thought given by many listers. Let me say right off the bat that I have never owned or ridden a Masi. They rare birds down here ... I have had one in my hands but it was an Alberto made Pista and still NOS so I did the right thing, sold it and counted my money's. In any case whilst I had that NOS frame I also had a well ridden and grossly painted Pogliaghi Pista to fondle at the same time. I liked the Pog much more but too small and now regenerated in the hands of Marty Eison. Where am I going with this? .... read on.
So Masi this, Masi that. I see and read a lot here about them and many other bikes and I never so much lust for many ... except for a certain chrome Cinelli Pista that lives in NYC. Then ... epiphany, I was clicking the internets and found these 2 pages ....
http://hometown.aol.com/
I don't care for the words, even though they quite a nice read ..... but just clicking through the pictures and savouring the details, the lighting, the mood, the period kodachrome, the clothes, the blonde, the patina, the setting .... the whole thing is a mis-en-place to fuel the start of a Masi addiction. Be serious .... any cyclist with passion should and would be taken as I was when clicking through them pics. The pictures of the old man, his place and the voice of his passion that is in each bicycle is enough to answer what many have been asking about and not understanding.
I still think they too expensive ... but am heartened that many here who are much older than me own prime examples in my size ;)
Ciao,
Ben Kamenjas
Sydney, Oztralia